466 Sheaffer Catalog Of Desk Sets 1970s 39 Pages

N? 8804

Fountain
Pen Bunk

By

JOHN H. KRITIKSON

President
SECURITY PEN CORPORATION

HAVING been engaged in the fountain pen in-
dustry for the past twenty years, working both
in the manufacturing as well as the administrative
end for the leading fountain pen companies, I am in
a position to offer our representatives who are
developing the distribution and sale of the
"SECURITY," some valuable first hand inform-
ation.

This, I believe, will assist them in their sales
efforts and enable them to answer intelligently any
questions which they may be asked, not only re-
garding the "SECURITY," but also fountain pens in
general.

It will also acquaint them with the advantages
and disadvantages of all the fountain pens on the
market, as well as many of the secrets which here-
tofore were only the property of manufacturers and
not intended for the public.

This information is going to be called
Pen Bunk."

Copyright 1924
Security Pen Corporation
Chicago, m.

'Fountain

Fountain Pen Bunk

PART 1

IRIDIUM

WUTHAT is it? Where does it come from and
what is the service it renders to the fountain

pen?

A metalic element much Eke platinum. It was
identified in 1802. With the exception of osmium,
also a newly discovered metal, it is the hardest sub-
stance known. It is very difficult to melt, requiring
a temperature of at least 3000 F. It is insoluble in
acid and does not rust. It is frequently used for the
tips of gold and stylographic pens, also in the con-
struction of electric instruments, as the resistance
cofl. Small quantities are obtained in California,
Borneo, Brazil, and in the Ural Mountains. It forms
three oxides; the solutions made from the salts of
the metal take on various tints, hence the name
from "Iris," the rainbow.

How often have you seen window signs and
advertisements in papers and magazines about
fountain pens tipped with hard Iridium! This ex-
pression is used practically by every manufacturer,
whether the pen is sold for $1.00 or $5.00; and the
poor public often wonders why the difference be-
tween one fountain pen selling for $1.00 and another
pen selling at $5.00.

As a matter of fact, there are very few companies
in the country who use the real native Iridium on
their pen points. This metal is generally fused with
other metals, and the prices vary from $50.00
to $200.00 an ounce.

Every Security Pen is tipped with the highest
grade of Iridium obtainable, costing us practically
$200.00 an ounce. This is put on the pen before
it actually takes its shape and is fused to the gold
pen point After the various operations which the
Iridium goes through, it represents a unit by itself.

Then the final and most delicate operation takes
place, that of grinding and shaping the pen; which,
by the way, requires skilled and experienced me-
chanics, some of the highest paid being employed
by our organization. If you will look at the finished
point of a Security Pen through a magnifying glass,
you wfll be surprised to see eight facets ending in

a ball shaped point, thus eliminating every possibil-
ity of sharp edges which cause scratching, and giving
a point as smooth as the surface of glass.

The Security Pen Corporation pays its gold pen
grinders the highest prices in the industry, our pur-
pose being to obtain the smoothest and most perfect
pen point obtainable.

The Iridium is so hard that you can actually take
a large Security Pen Point with a stiff action and by
drawing it heavily across a piece of glass, you will
actually cut the glass.

Every Security Pen Point goes through 79
minute operations before it is finally completed. It
I is then given a most rigid and careful inspection and
is fitted to a Security Holder.

The purpose of tipping the gold pens with
Iridium is to insure a long life to the pen itself. The
1 Iridium does not wear off, and with the proper use
! such a pen will last a life-time.

Iridium tips are occasionally chipped off. This,
however, cannot be avoided, and in such cases our
five-year guarantee is full protection for the cus-
tomer.

So much importance is attached to this Iridium
tip that if it were not for this precious metal, there
would be no practical fountain pens. Any manu-
facturer who attemps to sell fountain pens not tipped
with Iridium, and if he says they are durable, is
simply misrepresenting facts, for the most vital point,
and the life of the pen is the Iridium.

THE GOLD PEN

HAVING given you a brief description of Iridium,
and its great importance to the proper func-
tioning of a fountain pen, I will now proceed to the
next item, which is the gold pen.

THE PUBLIC IS SO IGNORANT of the various
"catches" with reference to a 14- Karat warranted
gold pen, on fountain pens, that I am very anxious
to go into detail and give you all the information
there is so that you will be in a position to determine
the difference between a gold pen stamped 14-
Karat, ordinarily used in cheaper quality fountain
pens, and the 14-Karat gold pen that is used in
standard advertised makes.

There is one point which is generally overlooked,
and of which the public has absolutely no knowl-

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edge, and that is the great importance of the gold
alloy used in making gold pens.

Of course we all know that there are three metals
which are required to make a 14- Karat gold alloy.
The first is pure government gold, costing $20.80
an ounce; second, fine silver, costing all the way
from 70c to $1.25 an ounce, according to the market
price; and third, copper, which costs at the rate of
50c a pound. You must remember that the various
proportions which are used, and the method of
regulating the heat in melting the gold for the prep,
aration of the alloy (which by the way, is a very
special process in the manufacture of Security Pen)
is just as important to a gold pen as a foundation is
to a building.

The special process that I have reference to, in
preparing our 14- Karat alloy, enables us to make our
pen points without annealing the gold. Now you
know that when you anneal a metal of any kind, you
take the temper out of it, and the metal becomes
dead. Through this special process of ours, we
eliminate annealing the gold, which gives our pen
points the special temper and flexibility that will
resist all kinds of wear, tear and abuse resulting
from the pressure of ordinary writing.

You will very seldom see a Security Pen, even
though it has been in use for several years, with the
nibs of the pen stretched open or bent from usage.
On the contrary, the hardness of the gold might
occasionally result in one of the nibs breaking in
two, in which case our five-year guarantee again
protects the customer.

This process of mixing the various metals in
preparing our 14- Karat alloy is the direct result of
seventeen years' practical experience.

SIZE OF THE PEN

NOW that we have spoken about the alloy, let
us get down to the size of the gold pen. How
often have you seen signs displayed in various win-
dows of merchants, advertising fountain pens with
14-Karat waranted gold pens and tiped with Iridium,
at 98c each? The public often wonders what the
difference is between a pen that sells for a dollar
and another pen that looks about the same as the
dollar pen, selling for five dollars.

There are several items that enter into considera-

tion, but we are going to talk exclusively about the
gold pen in this instance.

For example, if we took one of these one-dollar
fountain pens, removed the gold pen, then took one
of our No. 300 Security Pens and removed the gold
pen point, and put them side by side, you would
notice a decided difference in size; and if you went
to the extent of weighing each pen, you would be
surprised to find that the Security Pen weighs almost
three times as much as the little gold pen used in
dollar fountain pens.

Occasionally you will find fountain pens being
sold in some stores for fifty cents or less. If you
will take one of these pens and examine it closely,
you will see that the part of the pen that is outside
the holder is marked "warranted 14- Karat" and
that the bottom part of the pen which is fitted into
the holder, and which cannot be seen is stamped
"plated." To call this "Bunk" is putting it mildly.
It is actually misrepresentation. Now, although the
practice is being discontinued by manufacturers
whose only object was to fool the public, neverthe-
less a large number of these pens are still being sold
in various parts of the country and the public is
always the "goat"

Now you ask me, "Do all these cheap, low-grade
pens hurt the sale of the better type of pens like
the 'Security*?" and the answer is emphatically
"No!", because the value of a fountain pen is so
fixed in the minds of people who have found the
great usefulness and convenience of such a writing
instrument that they are being educated more and
more every day into using a higher type of fountain
pen. The saying goes — "Once a fountain pen
user, always a fountain pen user/ 9

In mentioning the above facts about the various
methods which some of these unscrupulous manu-
facturers use in deceiving the public, I am not in
any way endeaving to compare a Security Pen with
the cheap fountain pens on the market, but merely
wish to show you why there is such a great differ-
ence between one pen and another and what con-
stitutes this difference in price and materials.

No money or expense has been spared in making
the Security 14-Karat pen point full size and ground
in such a way that it will satisfy the most
exacting requirements. I have said that we pay

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the highest prices for grinding, or rather shap-
ing, our pen points — which requires the skill
of experienced mechanics; and when I say that
skill of experienced mechanics; and when I say that
we pay the HIGHEST prices for this work, yoa can
easily verify the statement by getting fa, touch
through a letter, or otherwise, with the gold pen
makers' union of either New York or Chicago the
addresses of which we will gladly furnish. I ^
sure they will give you the information requested
So much for the gold pen.

THE PEN HOLDER

m|OW we will talk about the holder, and the
*^ various styles and ornaments of fountain pens
which to a great extent fool the public. I , po fe e
previously about dollar fountain pens, but limited
myself to describing the difference in price as regards
the materials and workmanship in making the gold
pen. You will find, however, that the gold pen is
not the only item.

Take for instance the material in making a
holder. Every Security Pen Holder is made and
turned out of pure para rubber, machined and
turned by hand, and although not many ornaments
are attached to this holder, it is good looking and
made primarily for service, durability, and writing
satisfaction.

You will find holders on the market that are
made out of a substance easily breakable. Others
made of bamboo. Some holders are blown, and
with the least abuse will break in half. Ofttimes
while the holder — made of such material — is in your
pocket, the heat of your body will soften the holder
and cause it to lose its shape entirely. This is an-
other reason why it is impossible for anyone to pur-
chase a satisfactory fountain pen for $1.00 or $1.50.

A few years ago, the market was flooded
with fountain pens bejeweled and ornamented with
polished brass and nickel trimmings, which sold at
prices ranging from 75c all the way to $5.00. Quite
a number of manufacturers reaped a great harvest
in unloading this class of merchandise and the
public thought they were getting a great bargain by
purchasing these pens, never thinking for a moment
that all these ornaments were simply fastened to
the holder in order to give it a dressed up appear-

ance and deceive the people* More Fountain Pen
BUNK. But as Lincoln said. "You can't fool all the
people all of the time." It is gratifying to know that
these pens are now going out of existence with the
exception of some foreign makes which are imported
to this country now and then.

Now that we have spoken about the Iridium, the
Gold Pen, and the Holder, I am anxious to bring
up the importance of the filling mechanism.

THE FILLING MECHANISM

WE can truthfully say that we have the only
filling mechanism on the market that has
proved fool-proof beyond any question of doubt.
In the first place, the construction of our filling
mechanism enables us to combine a lever and
screw — the strongest leverage known — which
makes it possible for us to get an absolute com-
pression of the rubber sack, resulting in the ex-
clusion of all air from the rubber tube and, in
turn, filling the entire sack with ink. One of the
reasons why fountain pens in general leak and
blot is because the construction of the lever used
in most fountain pens on the market makes
it impossible to get an absolute compression of the
sack in filling the pen. The result is a certain amount
of air left in the rubber tube, which causes air bub-
bles and blots.

Another feature of our filling mechanism is the
pressure bar, which is made of monel-metal — non-
corrosive and rounded out in such a way that it is
impossible, even with the strongest compression, to
in any way damage the rubber sack. As far as I
know, this monel-metal pressure bar is to be found
only in the Security Fountain Pen.

The construction of our filling mechanism elimi-
nates all slots or holes in the barrel, making the pen
absolutely leak-proof and air tight

Another important feature of our filling mechan-
ism, which is generally overlooked and which plays
a very important part in the proper functioning of
filling the pen, is the manner in which the bar
presses on the rubber sack.

Taking a secional view of the barrel while oper-
ating the filling mechanism, you will notice that in
deflating the rubber sack, the pressure bar presses

the back end of the sack first and gradually the
front end, expelling all air and sediment before
filling the pen. This accomplishes two things at the
same time, namely: filling and cleaning the pen. t
Most of the filling mechanism of other fountain 4
pens now on the market, are faulty in construction
as regards this point, inasmuch as the pressure
bar deflates the front end of the sack and then the
back, allowing a certain amount of sediment and air
to remain always in the sack after filling the pen.
This sediment, remaining always at the bottom of
the sack, clogs up the ink channel of the feed bar,
preventing the steady flow of ink. On the other
hand, the remaining air causes bubbles to be formed,
resulting in ink blots.

To better demonstrate this to you and make it
clear in your own mind, take one of our cut-out pens
and by operating the filling mechanism, prove to
yourself the above statement, namely: the correct
and scientific construction of the Security filling
device.

Now let us compare our filling mechanism with
the ordinary filling device on the market, namely, j
the lever. In the first place, the particular construe- j
tion of this mechanism necessitates a slot in the
barrel; second very often it will catch on the outside
of a pocket when placing the pen in position, causing
the ink to spot a person's clothing. Undoubtedly
you have had some kind of experience or other due
to this fault of the mechanism itself.

To get a better idea as to the faulty construction
of the lever mechanism, just take an ordinary foun-
tain pen and compare it with the Security, and I
am sure you will be more than ever sold on the idea j
of the screw filling device of the Security Pen.

THE CLIP I

I AM sure you will agree with me that it is im- j
possible to say too much about our patented
spring clip. I believe that the Security Clip, without j
any exaggeration, is the most perfect and the most
practical, as well as most durable, clip on the market,
due to the fact that it is riveted in one place, inserted
in the cap on the other end and operating on a pivot.
It is utterly impossible for this clip to lose its tension
whether the material of your coat is heavy or light;

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it doesn't make a particle of difference. The Se-
curity Clip works every time*

To better illustrate the simplicity and strength
of the Security Clip, take a piece of tissue paper and
attach the Security Clip, and you will notice that
its grip is just as firm as if it were attached to your
overcoat pocket. This can be said of no other clip
on the market, and although the statement might
be too broad, I am ready to prove it; in fact, I will
urge you to find out for yourself by experimenting.

There is not a clip made on the market that re-
tains its tension after it has been in use for several
months, regardless of whether it has a ball tip or a
straight tip. This is due to the fact that the entire
tension and spring is dependent on that part of the
clip which is riveted or fastened to the cap, and you
will discover after such a clip has been in use for
a certain length of time, it has a tendency to open
up at the end. In other words, it leaves an open
space at the place where you expect a firm grip
after attaching it to your pocket. This necessitates
bending the clip in order to make it get a firm grip.

The Security Clip has been called the "One
Hand Man Clip" because it is possible for a man
with one hand to attach and remove this pen from
his pocket by slight pressure of his thumb on one end
of the clip, which automatically raises the other end.
This cannot be done with any other clip on the mar-
ket, as it is necessary to hold the top of your pocket
with one hand and press down the clip with the
other hand to place the pen in position.

Another feature of the Security Clip is that it is
gold plated. We do not make any Security Pen
Clips out of any other metal than rolled gold. They
give our Pens their rich appearance and satisfactory
service.

SECURITY PATENTS

THERE is not the slightest doubt that many of
the other fountain pen manufacturers would
be only too glad to imitate the features of the
Security were it not for the fact that we are pro-
tected by strong patents. As an illistration, let us
take the gold band which is fastened at the open
end of the cap.

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We Iiave been featuring this, as you probably
know, ever since we started manufacturing Security
Pens. In fact, we have not made any of our pens
without fastening a gold band at the end of the cap
the primary reason being not only to add to its
appearance, but also to protect at all times the
Security Cap against breakage, which has been the
trouble with other fountain pen caps. Lately, you
have undoubtedly seen advertisements of some of
the leading manufacturers featuring this gold band
on their pens. This is really gratifying to the manu-
facturers of the Security, as we know that in this
way we have been of service to the fountain pen
industry.

I have already emphasized the smoothness of
Security Pen Points, due to the fact that we use
the best grade of Iridium obtainable, and take par-
ticular care in seeing that each pen point is ground
absolutely smooth; also that we pay the highest
prices for this class of work

I also put particular stress on the fine action and
flexibility of Security Pens, based on the fact that
we have a special process of melting and preparing
our gold alloy, which enables us to leave the temper
in the gold after the pen reaches its final stage of
completion.

I have also explained to you that we get an
absolute deflation of the rubber sack, enabling it to
be filled full of ink instead of ink and air bubbles.
Then I have further explained that the main reason
our Security Clip never loses its tension is on ac-
count of the patented feature of the coil spring and
pivot

That part of the pen which gives the Security
its excellent writing qualities, the part which makes
it possible for the SECURITY always to be ready
for action without the necessity of shaking or
"teasing" it to write is the FEED BAR.

THE SECURITY FEED BAR

#■% HE FEED BAR is the part of the holder which is
• fitted to the pen point causing the flow of ink.

The Security Air Cushion Feed Bar is so scien-
tifically constructed that it insures a perfect and
even flow of ink, enabling the user of the SECURITY

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to write instantly on any kind of paper and with the
pen held in any position.

To better prove my statements, which sound
rather broad, try the following experiment with
your Security Pen and convince yourself; then at-
tempt the same thing with any other fountain pen
on the market and compare the results.

Take a sheet of paper and hold same over you.
Then use your SECURITY and you will find that
it will respond to your touch, even though it may
sound utterly impossible. Of course you may never
have occasion to use a pen in this manner, but this
little test will more than convince you that a pen
that will write upside down, will be ready to write
whenever you want it to.

The air cushion feed bar is entirely different
from any other feed on the market It has a sep-
arate ink and air channel, the upper wide channel
being the one through which the air travels, and the
lower narrow channel the one through which the
ink travels.

Now if you will more closely examine the feed
bar fitted to your demonstrating holder, you will
notice that there is a slot on the side all the way
through. This slot, which is connected with the
ink channel in the center, acts as a reservoir for the
excess of ink and on account of the capillary at-
traction obtained through the syphon action keeps
the pen point moist at all times and ready to per-
form instantly, eliminating forever the curse of leaks
and blots.

Often times, if you have not had occasion to
use your SECURITY pen for a week or ten days,
you will discover to your complete satisfaction and
surprise that the instant you remove the cap the pen
is ready for action without the annoyance of shak-
ing it, as you would likely have to with an ordinary
pen in order to get it started.

I cannot over emphasize the great worth and
importance of our patented air cushion feed bar,
as nine-tenths of all the troubles of fountain pens
in general, are traceable to faulty construction of
the feed bars, not to mention the large number of
carpets and floors spotted with ink stains because
of having to shake the pen in order to make it write.

Furthermore, when demonstrating the SE-
CURITY, do not fail to ask your prospect, who

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might tell you that he has a pen, if he has to shake
his pen to make it write. Then tell him about die
Security, a fountain pen which is always ready to
write, without any difficulty whatsover; a pen which
has accomplished the purpose for which it was in-
tended. And the SECURITY will do this every time.

My object in preparing this booklet is simply to
help make our representatives better fountain pen
salesmen and impart to them some of the knowl-
edge which I have acquired through years of con-
stant, practical experience in the fountain pen indus-
try, so that they may combat any argument If you
will use this information you can talk intelligently
on any subject relating to fountain pens, and this
knowledge will result in more sales.

I ask you, therefore, to read and digest every
word in this booklet very carefully and familiarize
yourself with all of these details with my assurance
that the results will more than pay you.

I have gone into a lengthy discussion on the
subject of fountain pens in general, and particularly
the Security Pen, as I am very anxious to have all
of our present, as well as all of our prospective
representatives realize that the SECURITY is not
a fly-by-night novelty that enables a few to make
a clean-up within a short time, but on the contrary
is a product of absolute necessity — indispensable to
every one who writes, and, of the highest quality
and workmanship— being the result of seventeen
years of practical experience. In addition to being
primarily a perfect fountain pen embodying novel
and improved features not to be found in any other
pen on the market (which features make the SE-
CURITY a better fountain pen) it is also a practical
check protector, enabling the user to protect his
checks any time and any place and doing the work
just as effectively as the most expensive check
writer on the market The representatives of the
SECURITY PEN CORPORATION, scattered
throughout the entire world, who are putting forth
their best efforts in developing the sales of the
SECURITY in their respective territories, are build-
ing a strong foundation for a clean, permanent
and profitable business. In selling your customers
this excellent product you are not merely exchang-
ing a commodity for dollars and cents but you are
rendering a really valuable service.

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